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There wouldn't be many who think Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings) Limited's (HKG:682) price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio of 1x is worth a mention when the median P/S for the Food industry in Hong Kong is similar at about 0.6x. While this might not raise any eyebrows, if the P/S ratio is not justified investors could be missing out on a potential opportunity or ignoring looming disappointment.

Check out our latest analysis for Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings)

How Has Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings) Performed Recently?

For instance, Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings)'s receding revenue in recent times would have to be some food for thought. Perhaps investors believe the recent revenue performance is enough to keep in line with the industry, which is keeping the P/S from dropping off. If not, then existing shareholders may be a little nervous about the viability of the share price.

Is There Some Revenue Growth Forecasted For Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings)?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings) would need to produce growth that's similar to the industry.

Taking a look back first, the company's revenue growth last year wasn't something to get excited about as it posted a disappointing decline of 5.1%. Regardless, revenue has managed to lift by a handy 16% in aggregate from three years ago, thanks to the earlier period of growth. Although it's been a bumpy ride, it's still fair to say the revenue growth recently has been mostly respectable for the company.

This is in contrast to the rest of the industry, which is expected to grow by 8.5% over the next year, materially higher than the company's recent medium-term annualised growth rates.

In light of this, it's curious that Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings)'s P/S sits in line with the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are ignoring the fairly limited recent growth rates and are willing to pay up for exposure to the stock. They may be setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with recent growth rates.

What We Can Learn From Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings)'s P/S?

It's argued the price-to-sales ratio is an inferior measure of value within certain industries, but it can be a powerful business sentiment indicator.

We've established that Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings)'s average P/S is a bit surprising since its recent three-year growth is lower than the wider industry forecast. When we see weak revenue with slower than industry growth, we suspect the share price is at risk of declining, bringing the P/S back in line with expectations. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, the probability of a share price decline will become quite substantial, placing shareholders at risk.

There are also other vital risk factors to consider before investing and we've discovered 1 warning sign for Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings) that you should be aware of.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Chaoda Modern Agriculture (Holdings), explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com